Electric switch-gear



' H..W.CL01HIER.

ELECTRIC SWIICH GEAR.

APPLICATION mso maca, 191s.

1,357,847, Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC-2, I9I8.

1,357,847. n Patented N0v.2,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR.l

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2. i918.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

4 SHEET SHEET 3.

H. W. CLOTHIER.v

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED nc.2, 1918.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY wILLIAM cLorHIma., or WALLsEND, ENGLAND, AssIGNoB, T0 A BEYROLLE a COMPANY LIMITED, or HEBBURN-oN-THE-TYNE, ENGLAND,

ELECTRIC SWITCH-GEAR.

Application led December 2, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WILLIAM CLOTHIER, a subject of the King of England, and residing at VallSend, Northumberland, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switch- Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical switch gear and has particular reference to oilbreak switch gear for high voltage alternating current Work such switch gear being of the type comprising two main portions one fixed and the other removable for isolating purposes.

It is well known that the oil containing tanks or vessels for such switch gear are subjected to sudden heavy shocks or stresses which occur when large power circuits are broken and many suggestions have been made as to making the tanks capable of withstanding these forces.

The primary object of the present invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of switch gear of this type by the provision of a tank which is capable of withstanding the shocks above mentioned and also acts as the mechanical support of the gear vas a whole thus obviating the necessity for the usual frame work.

In switch gear to which this invention is applicable there are three oil-containing vessels one, generally central containing the main switch, another accommodating the bus bars, and the third containing the terminals for the incoming cables and the transformers. The vessels containing the bus bars and transformers arev sometimes compound filled instead of containing oil. Usually these tanks are separate structures and are supported by a frame work the two side tanks often being smaller than the central tank and mounted in brackets forming part of the frame.

According to the present invention the three tanks are integral and form a self-supporting structure the two sidetanks forming reinforcements for the walls of the central tankk where the main break occurs and which consequently is subjected to the heaviest stresses.

The tank is not merely self-supporting but it also forms the structural yfoundation or base of the whole switch gear by carrying Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 265,018.

the removable portion of the gear which rests upon the tank and not upon an independent frame work or stand. 'Ihe strength of the tank is thus used for two purposes namely to enable it to withstand the stresses set up on the breaking of the circuit and also to enable the tank to be utilized as the mechanical support of the whole gear.

.The improved tank may be made in various ways, for instance it may be of cast metal or it may be of sheet metal riveted or welded and it may be provided, if desired, with a flexible or other inner tank or with other known arrangements to lessen the effeet of the internal stresses. In one construction of switch gear according to this invention suitable say for threephase work, the tank is formed of one main rectangular vessel divided by partitions into three compartments forming three separate oil-containing tanks. The central compartment contains the main switch and is further strengthened by the provision of transverse webs forming part of or secured to thev side walls and serving to separate the phases. Near each yend of the central tank there may be transverse partitions which act as additional strengthening members and also serve to form two small end chambers which may contain for example gear for lifting the removable portion when the switch has to be isolated.V When these transverse partitions are provided the central compartment where the main break takes place is backed up or reinforced at each side by a compartment containing oil and this arrangement materially reduces the effects of the shocks on the walls of such central compartment.

Lugs or brackets are provided within the central compartment to receive the holding down bolts for securing the removable portion of the gear and other lugs are provided in the side compartments for the support of the apparatus contained therein.

Une of the side compartments is intended for the bus bar connections and may be furnished with compound filled boxes or chambers at its ends or side to contain the connections between the bus bars of adjacent units or panels. The other side compartment is fitted externally with the usual form of dividing box, compound filled, for the entrance of the cores of a multi-core cable.

Within this compartment are contained the potential and current transformers with their necessary connections.

The removable portion of the switch gear is mounted on what may be regarded as the cover 'for the tank preferably having a Y llanged edge resting on and supported by the tank.l lt comprises the main switch and the mechanism tor opening and closing and connections to auxiliary or isolating contacts cooperating when the removable portion is in its normal working position on the tank, with other contacts suitably supported in the side compartments et the tank.

ln the accompanying drawings which illustrate one construction ot switch gear according to this invention,

Figure l is a plan of the tank. Fig. 2 is a vertical section Yon the line 2-2 ot Fig. l showing the removable upper portionV of the gear and also the fined portion contained inthe tank. Y

Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3-3 ot Fig. l with the lined portions of the gear in position, and

Fig. l is an elevation ot the 'portion ot the gear.

. rl`he tank A. s divided by partitions A and A2 into three compartments. The central compartment A3 contains the main oilbreak switch B which is carried by the removable lid-like structure C. rlhe central compartment is strengthened by the provision ot transverse webs A4 which serve to separate the phases. ln the construction removable shown by way of example the tank is only 1 provided with one pair ot these transverse webs thus making it suitable for two phases but it will be understood that for three phases another pair of webs might be provided thus dividing the central compartment into three portions instead of two.

r`lhe right hand compartment of the tank contains a potential transformer D shown in chain lines in Fig. 2 and the incoming cable E is brought through some usual term of cable dividing box F attached to the wal-l oi? the tank and ends in a connection "E in the compartment fk5. Lugs or bra kets A. are'provided on the walls of the compartment of upon which .rests a plate L2 carrying in a suitable insulator, a connection betweenV the cable connection E? and the isolating contact G carried by the lid C and connected with one pole et the main switch. Vlheletthand compartment A? accommoi dates the bus bar connections l-l which enter through compound filled boxes 1H l) at each end et the compartment or alternatively it the space between one unit or panel and another is limited from the side et the tank as shown in chain lines in Fig. l. rEhe connections between the bus bars and the main switch are AVthrough isolating plug connections J the fixed portions of these conerating the main switch being indicated at l. lt is however to be understood that the details ot Vthe main switch and its mechanism do not in themselves form part ot' the present invention and are therefore not described.

'lhe central compartment it is provided Vwithl lugs A9 some of which may accommodate holding down bolts A. for the removable upper portion ot the switch gear.

ln Fig. l the central compartment A? is shown provided with transverseV partitions All near each end. These act to strengthen the walls ot the central compartment and in the space between the outer walls of the tank A 'and the partitions All lifting gear for the upper portion ot the switch gear may be accommodated.

t is to be noticed that the tank Aris a selt supporting structure and carries the removable portion of the switch gear which forms a lid-like cover to the tank.

Although the tank is shown as one main vessel divided into three compartments of equal depth other constructions may be used providing that the three portions of the tank term an integral structure andV constitute the supporting part or 'foundation of the gear. For instance the tank may bea casting with side extensions or chambers at its upper portion such extensions constituting the side tanks which may or may not be separated by partitions'i'rom the central portion.

TWhat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters .Patent is l. ln electric oil-break switch gear avt-ank Vtor oil or other insulating liquid comprising a central portion to contain the main switch connections in the outer compartments, a

main switch carried by the cover and normally contained in the central compartment,

and isolating contacts also carried by the cover and coperating with the fixed connections in the outer compartments substantially as set forth.

3. In electric oil-break switch ear the .combination of a tank consisting o a main partments substantially as set forth.

4. In electric oil-break switch gear the in the outer comcombination of a tank consisting of a main vessel divided by partitions into three compartments forming three separate tanks, a lid-like cover supported by the tank, bus bar or other fixed connections in the outer compartments, brackets fixed in the outer compartments, contacts for isolating connections supported on the brackets, connections between such contacts and the fixed connections in the outer compartments, a main switch carried by the cover and normally contained in the central compartment and isolating contacts also carried by the cover and coperating with the contacts carried by the brackets substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY WILLIAM CLOTHIER. 

